Team News

Close Named Big South Player of the Week

Liberty first baseman Alex Close has been named the Big South Player of the Week for games played April 22-28, the league announced this morning.

Close, a sophomore from Hoover, Ala., hit .435 with 14 RBIs and two home runs, helping to lead the Flames to a 4-1 record last week, including a series sweep over conference foe VMI. The first baseman had at least one hit in each of the Flames' five games and posted four multi-RBI contests. For the week, Close posted a .458 on-base percentage, 18 total bases and a .783 slugging percentage.

After starting the week with two hits and two RBIs at Maryland, Tuesday, Close drove in a career-high six runs with three hits in a 17-10 victory at Old Dominion on Wednesday. One of his hits in the contest was a grand slam, his first home run of the season.

Close then capped the week by collecting at least one hit in each of the Flames' three contests at VMI. In Friday night's 4-0 win over the Keydets, the first baseman had a hit and scored a run. On Saturday, he had two hits in each game of Liberty's doubleheader sweep. In the first game, Close drove in four runs with two hits and a double. In the second game, he had two hits, one a home run, and two RBIs.

It is the sophomore's first Big South Player of the Week award of his career.

Close and the Flames will host Maryland at Liberty Baseball Stadium, Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.